Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz on death of Tyler Sash: 'He touched our hearts'

Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz released a statement at about 5 p.m. Tuesday on the death of former Hawkeyes standout Tyler Sash. Sash was found dead Tuesday morning in his hometown of Oskaloosa.

Below is Ferentz's statement:

“We are all very saddened to hear about the untimely loss of Tyler. It is always so difficult when it involves someone this young. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Tyler’s family during this extremely difficult time – and we want them to know they are not in this alone. The commitment, passion and excitement that Tyler brought to football and to life will always endear him to Hawkeye coaches, teammates, and fans. He touched our hearts in many ways and will be missed by all of us.”

Sash, a safety, was an all-Big Ten selection in 2009 and 2010 and was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He helped the Giants win a Super Bowl in his rookie season. He ranks fifth in school history in career interceptions (13).